GoHotelly
2-star hotel Check-in 15:00 · Check-out 11:00

Traverse Bay Inn

Stay at Traverse Bay Inn in Traverse City, MI. Enjoy homey suites with kitchens, free parking, outdoor pool, pet-friendly rooms, and easy access to Mt. Holiday.

2300 US-31, Traverse City, MI 49686, United States View on map
8.4/10
Very Good Based on 283 recent guest reviews
Free Wi-Fi Free parking Accessible Outdoor pool Air-conditioned
What recent guests emphasize

Comfortable, Clean, and Family-Friendly Inn Close to Nature

Visitors highlight spacious, well-equipped rooms with kitchens, friendly staff, and a peaceful setting near local attractions. Some note minor maintenance and location quirks but appreciate the homey atmosphere and practical amenities.

Guests often praise

  • Clean and comfortable rooms with well-stocked kitchens including cookware and utensils
  • Friendly and attentive staff, often providing helpful service and accommodating requests
  • Spacious accommodations suitable for families and longer stays
  • Pet-friendly environment, appreciated by guests traveling with dogs
  • Access to outdoor pool, hot tub, and loaner bikes enhancing the stay

Worth knowing

  • Check-in staff available only until 4pm, which may require planning arrival times
  • Some rooms show signs of wear such as carpets needing a deep clean or minor furniture updates
  • Location near main roads can lead to some traffic noise and requires a left turn to access town
  • No on-site restaurant or breakfast service; kitchens in rooms compensate for this
  • Website room descriptions may occasionally differ from actual room setups; management is responsive in resolving issues

Best for

  • Families or groups seeking affordable, roomy accommodations with kitchen facilities
  • Pet owners looking for a welcoming and dog-friendly stay
  • Travelers who plan to explore nearby outdoor activities like Mt. Holiday and local parks
  • Visitors wanting a quiet, home-like atmosphere rather than a luxury hotel
  • Those needing easy access to Traverse City attractions without being in the busiest part of town
Compare booking partners

Open this hotel on the platform you trust.

GoHotelly doesn't process bookings — we open this property on each partner so you can compare live rates, cancellation rules and loyalty perks side by side.

Some links are affiliate — if you book, GoHotelly may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full disclosure.

About this property

Welcome to Traverse Bay Inn

Located opposite the Gens Park boardwalk and just steps from a beach on East Grand Traverse Bay, Traverse Bay Inn offers simple, homey studios and suites equipped with kitchens. Designed with practicality in mind, each room features air conditioning and cooking facilities, making it a convenient choice for guests looking for a self-sufficient stay. The property includes an outdoor pool, a hot tub, and loaner bikes to enjoy the nearby recreation areas.

The inn serves guests seeking a relaxed, no-frills environment rather than luxury. It is pet-friendly and accessible, with free Wi-Fi and parking available, though breakfast and an on-site restaurant are not offered. Families and visitors planning extended stays have praised the comfortable beds, functional kitchen spaces, and attentive staff, though some note that certain areas like carpets could use more attention.

Traverse Bay Inn sits within easy reach of popular local attractions such as Mt. Holiday ski area, the Dennos Museum Center, and Mari Vineyards. The Traverse Area Recreation Trail is about a 10-minute walk away, providing additional outdoor activities for guests. The inn also benefits from close proximity to Cherry Capital Airport, just a nine-minute drive, enhancing its appeal for travelers arriving by air.

While room furnishings may show signs of wear and some units lack sufficient seating or towel hooks, many guests find the overall cleanliness and comfortable accommodations suitable for families, business travelers, and those visiting the area for extended periods. The front desk staff earns positive mentions for helpfulness, although check-in staff availability is limited to earlier in the day.

Summary compiled by GoHotelly editors from verified guest reviews, partner descriptions and editorial notes.
Facilities & essentials

What's on-site and what you should know before you arrive

The short version: what's available day-to-day, and the key practical details most travelers search for.

Most popular facilities

Free Wi-Fi
Free parking
Accessible
Outdoor pool
Air-conditioned
Pet-friendly
Kid-friendly
Kitchen in all rooms
Golf course
Smoke-free

Not available at this property

Free breakfast
Restaurant
Airport shuttle
Fitness center
Verified guest reviews

What recent guests are actually saying

Reviews from travelers who stayed here in the last 12 months, grouped to help you spot the pattern quickly.

JA
Justin A Mar 10, 2026
10

A clean and fairly priced motel. We stayed in the “two bedroom” unit which turned out to be two floors/three rooms in total (first floor - front room with couch and kitchenette, rear bedroom w/single bed; second floor - one bedroom with two beds. There were only two of us but this room could accommodate an entire family for sure. The space was clean and attended to. Would definitely stay here again. Do note: the check in staff in is only on the property until 4pm.

AH
Angela Harris Mar 05, 2026
10

Hands down a great hotel if you are in T.C. I live in Florida now but T.C. is my home and we stay here every time we come home. Rooms are always clean and if you need anything while staying there the staff is always there to help! Megan is absolutely amazing and always willing to answer questions if you need something! We thank you for our 10 day stay there and look forward to coming back!

JJ
J J Mar 04, 2026
10

Wonderful service for valentine's they made it feel special

TS
Traci Stock Feb 22, 2026
10

My two week stay at Traverse Bay Inn was amazing. I was in town working and I was surprised with the 5 star treatment! My room had everything I would need to eat, work and rest. Eating and cooking utensils were so appreciated. Even gave me dish soap! Bed and pillows were so comfortable. I will tell friends and family to stay there!!

SG
Shannon Gillespie Feb 12, 2026
10

Omg I love a this place so much I could live here my job takes me to Traverse City and I stay here. Dog friendly and my doggie loves it. Kinda like a home away from home. So peaceful clean cozy and the staff who work here are amazing ladies. Don't forget to tip your cleaning lady when you leave

RR
Rae Rowland Jan 24, 2026
10

We stayed at this hotel for a few nights. The room was very clean, and it offered several beds for guests to sleep. Shower water pressure was good - sometimes it can be hit or miss! My only gripe was about the traffic, since town is a left turn on the main road. This location is great though, being close to shops and restaurants. Front desk staff work very hard to make sure that all rooms are clean, and they allowed us to check in an hour early which was great. Highly recommend this place to stay.

SS
Steven Stafford Jan 23, 2026
10

Excellent stay - Highly Recommend Bit of a long review, but want to share experience and encourage others to stay here. We’re a family of 5; 3 kids are college age and it tough finding affordable places with room for all. We booked a room through the website, which described room with 4 beds (2 Queens and 2 Doubles) and had pictures of fairly nice sized rooms. When we arrived, the unit provided had 1 Queen and 2 Doubles. We contacted office and they said there is no room with 4 beds; they had recently changed website managers and there must have been some mistake. In a rare moment of TRUE CUSTOMER SERVICE, we were provided a second room, free of charge, for entire stay. Thank you for stepping up and making our stay a good one! Our units were very clean. In addition to family trips, I’ve done a lot of business travel. The cleanliness of the units was excellent. We were offered housekeeping during stay and declined it. It wouldn’t be appropriate to say luxury, but the units were well kept and functional. Towels and bedding were nice. The beds were comfortable. The other furniture could use a bit of upgrading. The units were quiet and well heated. Large closets! Water was hot and plentiful. Our units had a small kitchen area with full sized refrigerator, stove, sink, real coffee maker, and other kitchen items - didn’t cook a meal, but used space for snacks and light breakfasts. In all honesty, the more casual feel made the stay more relaxing. We were visiting family and friends in the area for 3 nights and didn’t spend great lengths of time in the rooms; other than an hour or so before and after a full night’s sleep. For families staying longer, who may spend longer family time in the room, there could be a couple minor issues; -There was a small sofa for 2 adults (not a sleeper sofa) and two dining chairs in the unit. It would have been tough for all 5 of us to sit in one of the units. (Maybe a folding chair or two tucked in the unit’s closet?) -There aren’t enough towel hooks. There was one towel hook in each unit. I complain about lack of towel hooks in almost every hotel we stay. While hotels suggest we can save the planet by simply reusing towels, most don’t have enough hooks/whatever to hang used towels. (Again, the closets in the units were larger and might be an ideal spot for more towel hooks.) -One unit had carpet, the other that industrial vinyl. The carpeted unit seemed cozier, quieter with less stuff (sidewalks had deicer) tracked in. This seems really minor and I sure if we requested housekeeping the vinyl floor would have been cleaned spotless. But, for a longer stay, the carpet was nicer and could be a more inviting spot for sitting for extended TV watching. Overall, I highly recommend the Traverse Bay Inn. I’ve had the good fortune to space in some “fancy” places - and this place (especially the staff) hits all the right marks for a family. The accommodations are basic, but functional with good space for a family to stretch out. (Except for number of beds, the 5 of us would have been good, space wise, in one unit). The staff is friendly and excellent. The price for our entire 3 night stay was what other places in the area were asking for 1 night. This was our second stay and now will be our go-to place for future visits.

AW
Alyssa Weber Jan 05, 2026
8.0

It's a little hard to find. Beautiful rooms... But the carpets are quite dirty. Don't set your baby down on it. And wear your shoes. But other than that the pool is really nice and it has the necessities.

Location & neighborhood

Where you'll find Traverse Bay Inn

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Opposite the Gens Park boardwalk leading to a beach along East Grand Traverse Bay, this casual hotel is a 10-minute walk from Traverse Area Recreation Trail and a mile from the Mount Holiday Ski Area.

  • US-31 at Pointes North (Westbound) 7 min Walk
  • US-31 at Four Mile Rd (Eastbound) 5 min Walk
  • US-31 at Four Mile Rd (Westbound) 7 min Walk
  • Cherry Capital Airport 9 min Car · 15 min Transit
  • Manistee County Blacker Airport 1 hr 20 Car · 12 hr Transit
Things to do nearby

Worth the walk or a quick ride

Curated spots travelers usually pair with a stay in Michigan. Distances are rough real-world times, not straight-line.

Mt. Holiday 580 reviews

Mt. Holiday

3100 Holiday Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686, United States

4.6 · Ski Resort
Dennos Museum Center 464 reviews

Dennos Museum Center

1410 College Dr, Traverse City, MI 49686, United States

4.7 · Art Museum
Mari Vineyards 1,012 reviews

Mari Vineyards

8175 Center Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686, United States

4.5 · Winery
People also viewed

Similar Inns in Michigan

Hand-picked alternatives with a comparable feel, size and price band.

1421 S Burr St, Mitchell, SD 57301, United States

AmericInn by Wyndham Mitchell

AmericInn by Wyndham Mitchell offers a heated indoor pool, hot tub, free breakfast, and easy access to the Corn Palace and Dakota ...

4 (448) View
120 Willard Hagan Dr, Lebanon, TN 37090, United States

avid hotel Lebanon, an IHG Hotel

Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, parking, and petfriendly rooms at avid hotel Lebanon, an IHG Hotel. Located near Cedars of Lebanon S...

4.3 (357) View
16825 Co Rd 162, Nathrop, CO 81236, United States

Deer Valley Ranch

Stay at Deer Valley Ranch, a 4.5star lodge in Nathrop, CO offering free WiFi, pool, petfriendly rooms, and easy access to Mount...

4.5 (136) View
2100 Spring Rd, Oak Brook, IL 60523, United States

Le Méridien Chicago - Oakbrook Center

Stay at Le Méridien Chicago Oakbrook Center, a 4.3star hotel offering tapas lounge, restaurant & bar, ideal for meetings, weddi...

4.3 (844) View
223 Andover Park E, Tukwila, WA 98188, United States

Hotel Interurban

Stay at Hotel Interurban in Tukwila, WA. Enjoy modern rooms, an indoor pool, LGBTQ+ friendly amenities, and close access to Seattl...

4.2 (1,331) View
4535 Commerce St, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, United States

The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center

Upmarket hotel in Virginia Beach with a heated indoor pool, 24hour fitness center, restaurant, and LGBTQ+ friendly. Near First La...

4.4 (1,570) View
101 W Main St, Elkin, NC 28621, United States

Three Trails

Stay at Three Trails Hotel, Elkin, NC. Rated 4.6 with 76 reviews, close to Raffaldini, Grassy Creek & Shelton Vineyards. Convenien...

4.6 (76) View
10360 AL-227, Guntersville, AL 35976, United States

Sweet Springs Retreat

Experience Sweet Springs Retreat, a highlyrated resort hotel in Guntersville, AL. Enjoy diverse amenities and excellent guest rev...

4.8 (32) View
13220 Houston Ave, Hudson, FL 34667, United States

Eden RV Resort

Stay at Eden RV Resort in Hudson, FL. Enjoy amenities like free WiFi, outdoor pool, petfriendly rooms, restaurant, and easy acce...

4.4 (345) View
509 3rd St, Vienna, GA 31092, United States

Fruits of Vienna Bed and Breakfast

Experience a 5star stay at Fruits of Vienna Bed and Breakfast, LGBTQ+ friendly hotel at 509 3rd St, Vienna, GA. Close to Georgia ...

5 (50) View
Share your stay

Stayed at Traverse Bay Inn? Help the next traveler decide.

Short, honest notes are more useful than long ones. A few sentences about what worked, what surprised you, and who the hotel is best for will go a long way.

Your email is only used to verify the review — it won't be shown publicly.